Scandalous situation around the WTCC World Championship in Thailand has played into the hands of the current world champion and leader of the series this year, Jose Maria Lopez. Earlier this year, the leadership of the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand and was replaced by new officials were not interested in pursuing the global stage Turing.
As a result, the championship has lost — or rather lose in the near future — one of the stages at which competitors could theoretically play points from Lopez. Therefore, the abolition of the race allowed the Argentine to issue the title early at the stage in Japan.
But Jose Maria did not relax — he began the weekend at Motegi with a win in the qualifying session. Generally Citroen representatives dominated in qualifying — Lopez took the pole, his team-mate Yvan Muller factory showed the second time, «owner-driver» Mehdi Bennani from Sebastien Loeb Racing was third, while his colleague Tom Chilton — fifth.
Against the background of these findings times rivals to put it mildly impressed — a group of four Citroen broke just became the fourth Tiago Monteiro from Honda. Nestor Girolami from Volvo showed the sixth result, then Nicky Katsburg (Lada), Ted Björk (Volvo), as well as two representatives of Honda, Robert Huff and Norbert Mihelits. By the principle of reciprocal lattice last won the pole of the first race — two representatives of the Honda were on the front row.
But two of the three representatives of the Lada remained outside the top ten — South Valens and Gabriele Tarquini showed 13 and 14 times.
Started from pole in the first race Norbert Mihelits keep the lead and did not let anyone get close to him brought the race to win. His team-mate Rob Huff also retained its second position, having won «silver». But he finished third another representative Japanese brand Tiago Monteiro.
The Portuguese started only seventh, but on the first lap was able to play three positions and came in fourth place. Then he began to systematically attack ranks third Ted Bjork and by mid-arrival distance has managed to pass the Swede.
In turn, Bjork and could not keep that position — he missed attack Citroen Racing riders: Jose Maria Lopez at first, and then the Yvan Muller — and eventually finished only seventh.
After it has finished the first race of the best representative of Lada Nicky Katsburg. He walked for a long time the fifth, but in the fight with Lopez flew off the track, losing this precious time. Gabriele Tarquini led his Lada to finish in tenth position, while South Valent fizzled out at the beginning of the race.
Start of the second race of the weekend was very reminiscent of the start of the first — the owners of the poles and the second starting position Jose Maria Lopez and Yvan Muller from the start raced off ahead, do not allow anyone to interfere in their orders. But on the penultimate lap Argentinian slowed down by passing the Frenchman ahead — Lopez simply gave the victory to his team mate.
The third position — in the second race in a row — finished Tiago Monteiro. Honda Pilot at the start ahead of Mehdi Bennani and then calmly brought the race to the finish on the podium. Bennani also without incident finished fourth in turn.
Following them, the race finished Nestor Girolami, Tom Chilton, Ted Björk, Norbert Mihelits, Robert Huff and Gabriele Tarquini — Italian again took tenth position, but this time he was the best representative of the Russian team.
After it has completed the second race of his comrade-in-arms Nicky Katsburg and third pilot Lada South Valent became the thirteenth.
As a result of the Japanese phase separation the individual competition leader Jose Maria Lopez of Citroen from its main pursuer Tiago Monteiro, representing Honda, is 120 points. After the cancellation of the race in Thailand, participants will hold a series of only two stages, which means that the Portuguese will not be able to catch up with the Argentine.
We can not say that the third title goes to Lopez at some very much bitter struggle — it is hoped that the departure of the factory Citroen team of world-Turing, as well as the transition Jose Maria Lopez in Formula E will be able to return to the World Championship WTCC intrigue, which we have already long ago We did not see...
Picture: FIA WTCC
